Tile-ditcher



(No Model.)

2 Sheets-Sheet l. H. I. POTTER.

TILE DITGHBR.

Patented Aug. 20, 1889.

A TTOHIVEY N PETERS. Pnowmhumphm. washmgmn. D. C.

(No Model.) 2 sheets-sheet 2. H. I. POTTER.

TILE DITCHER.

No. 409,424. Patented Aug. 20. 1889.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

HERMAN I. POTTER, OF LEONARDSBURG, OHIO.

TILE-BITCHER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 409,424, dated August20, 1889*.

Application tiled April 15,1889. Serial No. 307,280. (No model.)

To alwwm t may concern:

Be it known that I, HERMAN I. POTTER, of Leonardsburg, in the county ofDelaware and State of Ohio, have invented a new and use ful Improvementin TileDitchers, of which the following is a full, clear, and exactdescription.

My invention relates to an improvement in tilc-ditchers, and has for itsobj eet to improve the construction of the tile-ditcher patented tomyself May 24, 1887, No. 363,540, and to provide a means whereby thecost of manufacturing will be reduced and the machine be more readilycontrolled, and also be more effective in operation.

The invention consists in the novel construction and combination of theseveral parts, as will be hereinafter more fully described and set forthin the claims.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part ofthis specification, in which similar letters and figures of referenceindicate corresponding parts in all the views.

Figure 1 is a side elevation of the machine. Fig. 2 is a side elevationof the endless-beltcarrying wheel. Fig. 3 is a central vertical sectionthrough the wheel. Fig. 4 is a plan view of a section of the endlessbelt adapted for contact with the carrier, and Fig. 5 is a perspectiveview of the device for regulating the tension of the endless belt.

In carrying out the invention the frame 10 of the machine consists oftwo pairs of side bars connected at their rear ends by a curved orupright bar and at their center by standards carried upward above theupper set of side bars to form, essentially, an arch 11.

The rear end of the machine is supported by a caster-whecl 12, thestandard 13 of which isswiveled to a bearing formed in or attached tothe rear ends of the lower side bars of the frame 10. To the middleparts of the lower side bars of the frame a large Wheel 14 is journaled,the rim of which is grooved to form a channel in which the dirt iscarried up from the bottom of the ditch.

To the side of the carrying or dirt wheel 14 a spur-wheel 15 is secured,adapted to mesh with a pinion 1G, fastened upon a shaft journaled in thecentral standards of the frame near the upper side bars thereof, theshaft upon which the pinion 1G is secured being also made to carry asprocket-wheel17. This sprocket-wheel 17 is connected by a chain belt 13with a second sprocket-wheel attached to the shaft 19, journaled in theupper extension of the central standards of the frame, as shown in Fig.1, and upon this shaft 191 abeltcarrying wheel 2O is rigidly secured,which belt-carryin g wheel is illustrated in Figs. 2 and 3. Thisbeltcarrying wheel constitutes one of the improved features of themachine, and consists of a hub 21,whereby it is fastened to the shaft,from which hub, at each side of its center, a series of arms 22 and 23are made to radiate, which arms are curved outward in the direction ofthe ends of the hub, as best shown in Fig. 3. Each arm of the series 22and 23 is provided with an integral lug 24, extending outward at a rightangle to the body of the arm, the inner face of which lugs is preferably smooth and fiat, and each arm is fur ther provided upon its outerface with an attached or integral block 25, having a sharp or knifeedge, which block at the outer end is connected with or forms anintegral portion of the inner flat faces of the lugs 24, the saidl lugsbeing made to extend beyond the outer longitudinal surface of theblocks. The arms of one seriesfor instance, C22-are so proj ected fromthe hub that they will alternate with the arms of the opposite series23, as shown in Fig. 2. The arms are thus arranged in order that as theendless belt 26 passes over the wheel, which belt is composed of aseries of plates, as hereinafter set forth, the block ,25 of one set ofarms will strike or engage one plate at one end and the block of theopposite series the next plate at the diagonally-opposite end.

The endless belt 26 consists of a series of plates A, preferablyrectangular in general contour, and provided at one side edge, near eachend, with a hook-like extension 27', which extension curves up over theplate, as shown in Fig. 4, and in the opposite side, in transversealignment with each hook-like extension 27, a longitudinal slot 28 isproduced, and the belt is formed by causing the hooklike extensions ofone plate to pass upward through the slots 28 of the next plate, and soon until a complete continuous chain or belt is formed, and as the beltwhen completed travels over the carrying wheel or pulley 19 IOO i thehook-like extensions 27 are engaged by the several blocks 25 of thecarrying-wheel, the said hook-like extensions being upon the inner faceof the belt, as shown in Fig. l. Thus an effective means is provided forpositively revolving thev belt. After the belt is passed over in contactwith the carryingwheel 2O the forward portion of the belt is made topass along the channel in the rear of the elevating or dirt wheel 14,and from thence around the friction-pulley 28, held near the bottom ofthe machine in the movable standard 29, which standard is carried upwardthrough the side bars of the frame l0, and provided upon opposite sides,at its top, with a series of teeth 30, constituting a rack-surface, asshown in Fig. l. The belt passes from the lower friction-pulley 28:Lupward over a similar pulley 31, journaled in a hanger 32, pivoted tothe upper side bar of the frame at the rear end thereof.

Each of the friction-pulleys 28 and 3l is provided with a sharpperipheral face and is capable of traveling in the center of the belt.In the form of machine shown and described in my former patent thesepulleys were made with fiat faces; but in practice itwas found that whenthe soil elevated was very moist they did not do effective work. Thestandard 29, carrying at its lower extremity the friction-pulley 28, isattached to the standard 33 of the plow 34, used in connection with theelevating-wheel, and the endless belt is so carried with respect to thechannel of the wheel 14 that the V'dirt raised by the plow 34 will becarried up by land between the belt and the channel-rim of the wheel 14and will be discharged upon the ground at the side of the ditch througha spout 35, located at the top of the frame of the machine, over thewheel, the inner end of which spout is so formed as to it into thechannel in the wheel and serve as a scraper to remove the dirt from thechannel, as fully described in my former patent. The plow standard 33 iscurved upward and rearward from the plow around the friction-pulley 28nand forward a distance, and it is connected by a rod 35 with a curvedlever 36, pivoted near the forward end of the machine to or betweenthelower side bars of the frame, the upper end of which lever 36 is unitedto a crank-arm 37, integral with a shaft 38, journaled upon the upperside bars of the frame, by a connecting-rod 39, and the said shaft 38 ismanipulated by a lever-handle 40, fast to the shaft, which handle isprovided with a pivoted latch 4l, capable of entering one of a series ofnotches produced in the rack 42a, secured to the frame, as shown in Fig.l. Thus by manipulating the said handle the plow may be raised orlowered as desired through the medium of the lever 3G. Tension isexerted upon the belt by a spring 42, (illustrated in detail in Fig. 5,)having one end secured to a revoluble shaft 43, journaled in the rear orcurved ends of the side bars, which spring is coiled and carried upwardto an attachment with a rigid shaft 44, fixed in the frame above therevoluble shaft 43, as shown in Fig. l. Upon the revoluble shaft one endof a chain 45 is attached, the other end of which chain is engaged witha hook 46, projected from the rear edge of the pivoted hanger 32 of thefriction-roller 3l. Thus by unwinding the chain from the shaft 43 andsecuring the links to the hook 46 greater tension will be exerted uponthe belt than if the chain were allowed to wind around the shaft andthen be attached to the hook.

At each side of the racked upper end of the pulley standard or hanger 29shafts 47 and 48 are respectively journaled, each being provided with apinion 50, capable of contact with the said racked surface of thehanger, and to the journals or shafts of each of the gear-wheels 50,upon opposite sides of the frame, cranks 50 are attached, adapted forcontact with the drivers feet, so that the driver by pushing one of hisfeet forward raises the plow 34 and causes it to cuta shallow furrow,and by pushing the other foot forward he can cause it to cut a deeperfurrow. The handle 40 of the lever and the connection between the handleand the plow is more properly used for elevating the plow entirely fromthe ground when its services are not required.

To the inner side of the forward end of t-he side bars of the frame l0are attached two parallel bars 5l, which are curved upon the arcs ofcircles and have their centers at the point where the rear ends of theside braces 52 are connected with the side bars 0f the frame l0, asshown in Fig. l, so that the forward end of the said frame 10 can moveup and down on acurved bar 54, having an inner rack-surface,whichrack-bar 54 is secured at or near the center of the forward edge by anarch 55, carrying the forward wheels 56 of the machine.

To one side of the curved bars 5l, which are secured to the frame l0 ofthe machine,

are pivoted rollers 57, which rest and roll upon the side anges formedupon the rack-bar 54, said rack-bar being interposed between theframe-bars 5l and similarly curved.

The frame of the machine at the forward end is raised or lowered throughthe medium of a pinion 58, xed upon a shaft jonrnaled in the upper endof the upper side bars of .the frame, which shaft also carries amitergear 59, and with said miter-gear a bevel-pinion G0 is made tomesh, which bevel-pinion is secured upon a shaft Gl, extending above theupper side bar of the frame to the rear and terminating in a suitablehandle near the drivers side. Thus by turning the shaft 6l the drivercan manipulate the forward end of the machine.

Near the extremities of the arch racksegments G2 are rigidly secured,the rack-face of which segments are turned in the direction of the rear,as illustrated in Fig. l, and upon IOO IIO

the said extremities of the arch, outside of the segmental racks 62,levers 63 are journaled provided with pivoted catches capable ofengaging the rack surface of the segments. Upon these levers G3 thefront wheels 56 of the machine are journaled. These constitute anotherimprovement upon the old form of machine, and the purpose of thisconstruction is to enable the operator to raise or lower both of thefront wheels, or only one of the same, by elevating or by depressing thelevers G3, whereby the wheels may be accommodated to hillside work or touneven ground. The arch 55 is further attached to the forward rackbar 5iby means of curved braces G4, one brace extending from each extremity ofthe arch to a connection with the rack-bar 54 near its lower end. Thefront end of the framebraces 52 is secured to the arch. It will thus beobserved that the forward wheels may be elevated or depressed withoutinterfering with the position of the main body of the machine, and thatthe main body of the machine may be similarly adjusted withoutinterfering in the least with theposition of the forward wheels.

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secureby LettersP-atentl. In a tile-ditcher, the combination, with a frame,and a channeled elevating-wheel pivoted in said frame, of a beltcarryingwheel journaled in the frame above the elevating wheel and consisting ofa hub and two series of curved arms alternately arrangedprojecting fromthe said hub, each arm provided with an attached horizontally-arran gedblock, a belt passing over the carrying-wheel to a contact with theelevating-wheel, and adj ustable friction-pulleys contacting withthesaid belt, substantially as shown and described.

2. In a tile-ditcher, the combinatiomwith a frame, and anelevating-wheel provided with a peripheral channel and j ournaled in thesaid frame, of a belt-carrying wheel journaled in the frame above theelevating-wheel, consisting of a hub and opposed series of curved armsradiating from the said hub and later ally arranged, each arm providedwith a horizontal block having an angular surface, a belt passing overthe carryingwheel in con tact with the elevating-wheel and consisting ofa series of plates united by hooks integral with the edge of one plateand passing through apertures in the next plate, which hooks projectfrom the inner surface of the belt, and friction or tension pulleys heldin contact with the said inner surface of the belt, substantially asshown and described.

3. In a tile-ditcher, the combination, with a frame, an elevating-wheelj ournaled in the said frame and having a channeled periphery, and acarrying wheel or pulley j ournaled above the elevating-wheel,consisting of a hub and opposed series of curved arms radiating from thehub and laterally arranged, each arm provided with a horizontal blockhaving an angular surface, of a belt consisting of a series of unitedplates having hooks projected from its under surface near its ends, saidbelt passing over the carrying-pulley in contact with the channel of theelevatingwheel, a friction-pulley contacting with the inner face of thebelt at its lower end, a second friction-pulley contacting with theouter web of the belt at or near the center of its length, said pulleybeing j ournaled in a swinging hanger, a spring-actuated shaft journaled in the frame, and a chain attached to the said shaft and to theswinging hanger, all combined for operation substantially as shown anddescribed.

4. In a tile-ditcher, the combination, with a frame, an elevating-wheeljournaled lin the said. frame and provided with a channeled periphery, abelt-carrying pulley journaled in the frame above the elevating-wheel,and a belt passing over the said pulley in contact with the channel ofthe elevating-wheel, of a friction-pulley contacting with Ithe belt atits lower end, a second friction-pulley contacting with the outer web ofthe belt at or near its center and journaled in the swinging hanger, ashaft journaled in the frame, a spring secured to the shaft, coiledaround the same,`and rigidly attached to the frame, and a chain attachedto the spring-carrying shaft and to the said swinging hanger, allcombined for operation substantially as shown and described, whereby thebelt may be tightened or loosened, as desired, by lengthening orshortening the chain, as set forth.

5. In a tile-ditcher carrying an endless belt, the combination, with apulley consisting of a hub and opposed series of outwardly-curved armsalternately arranged, cach arm provided with a horizontal block havingan angular face, of a belt adapted t-o travel over and be carried by thesaid pulley, said belt consisting of a series of plates, each platebeing provided with hooks formed upon one edge near its outer end, andtransverselyaligning horizontal slots in its opposite edge and united bythe hooks of one plate passing through the slots in the next plate, allcombined for operation substantially as shown and described.

G. ln a tile ditcher, the coinbinatiomwith a forward arch having asegmental rack secured to each extremity, of levers pivoted to theextremities of the arch provided with latches engaging the segmentalracks, and forward drive-wheels journaled upon the said levers,substantially as shown and described, whereby the forward wheels may beraised or lowered together or separately and without interfering withthe body of the machine,substantially as and for the purpose specified.

HERMAN I. POTTER. lVitiiesses:

JOHN A. SHOEMAKER, JACKSON HIPPLE.

IOO

IIO

